4 Elements of an Effective Educator's Evaluation Tool

Certified Evaluation

Handbook

Dodge City Unified School District 443

2017-2018

Evaluation Handbook

Dodge City Unified School District 443

TABLE OF CONTENTS The e4E Philosophy – Four Elements of an Effective Evaluation ……………..............2 Evaluation Procedures – Dodge City USD 443 .....................................................3 Access to Evaluation .....................................................................................................5 Plan of Assistance Procedures ..................................................................................6 Plan of Assistance for Improving Educator Performance .................................7

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The e4E Philosophy - Elements of an Effective Educator’s Evaluation (Educator= Certified Staff Member)

The e4E tool reflects a shared commitment and responsibility by Educators and Administrators to evaluate classroom practices and instruction. In PK-12 education, Educator evaluation is used to assess performance and facilitate professional growth needed for increased student achievement and learning.

The e4E evaluation tool reflects research-based evidence, and incorporates a systematic and continuous approach to improved Educator practice by examining the Educator’s understanding of learners, mastery of content, effective use of pedagogy, and engagement in professional activities.

Research demonstrates that effective Educators constantly reflect on their practice while striving to find effective pedagogical methods and techniques to use in their classrooms to improve students’ learning. In recognition of the dynamic nature of modern classrooms, the e4E tool uses multiple measures of data to determine the effectiveness of the Educator.

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Evaluation Procedures – Dodge City USD 443

Evaluation will be made in writing of every licensed employee in accordance with the minimum requirements o f K . S . A . 72-9001 e s . s e q . Evaluations beyond those required by law may be requested by the evaluating administrator or the educator.

1. The building principal or evaluating administrator will discuss certified evaluation

objectives and procedures with the staff at the beginning of the school year. All educators shall be informed at the beginning of the school year of approximate dates and frequency of evaluations during the school year.

2. Educator and evaluating administrator observations and conferences shall be arranged

according to the following schedules:

A. Every employee in the first two (2) consecutive years of employment will be evaluated at least two (2) times per year. Observations evaluation shall not occur on Halloween, Valentine’s Day, or the day before the following designated school holidays/vacations: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break.

B. Every employee in the third and fourth year of employment shall be evaluated at

least one (1) time per year during. Observations for summative (formal) evaluation shall not occur on Halloween, Valentine’s Day, or the day before the following designated school holidays or vacations: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break.

C. At the completion of the fourth year of employment, every employee will have a

summative evaluation at least once every three (3) years after. Observations for shall not occur on Halloween, Valentine’s Day, or the day before the following designated school holidays or vacations: Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break.

3. The evaluating administrator shall use the USD 443 e4E - The Four Elements of an Effective

Educator’s Evaluation tool. Building or district letterhead may be used as a memo form for other information directly related to summative evaluation topics, and must include a place for signatures of both the educator and the evaluating administrator, including explanatory notes, as per the e4E Educator Observation form. This does not preclude the use of complimentary or congratulatory notes.

4. A formal summative evaluation shall be based upon a minimum of three (3) classroom

observations of no less than one (1) class period or instructional period. For educators in the first two (2) years of employment, a minimum of two (2) observations shall be required prior to each summative evaluation.

A. An e4E Pre-Observation Goal-Setting form may be completed collaboratively between the evaluating administrator and the educator prior to an observation.

B. A post-observation conference, as requested by the educator or the evaluating

administrator, will be conducted within five (5) working days following any observation. Either party may request additional observations beyond the minimum and/or request another observer. An e4E Conference form will be

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completed following any post-observation conference, and will be signed by both parties. A signed copy of the e4E Conference form will be provided to the educator.

C. In the case of multiple building assignments, the respective administrators will

mutually agree to share responsibility in conducting classroom observations, providing feedback and writing the required evaluation.

5. A educator may submit an e4E Self-Evaluation form to the evaluating administrator

prior or subsequent to a summative evaluation.

6. The e4E Summative Evaluation form will be completed based on documentation from the e4E Educator Observation form(s), the e4E Goal-Setting form(s), and the e4E Conference form(s). If requested by the educator, the e4E Summative Evaluation form will be given to the educator prior to a summative evaluation conference with the evaluating administrator.

7. If, in the judgment of the educator, the report is inaccurate, unfair or incomplete, a written response may be provided to the evaluating administrator within ten (10) working days, and will be attached to all copies of the e4E Summative Evaluation form.

8. If, in the judgment of the educator, the evaluation is inaccurate, unfair or incomplete,

the educator may request a review of the evaluation by the Superintendent of Schools. Such a request for a review shall be made in writing, with a copy sent to the evaluating administrator for his/her information. The Superintendent, or the designated representative, shall review all aspects of the evaluation within five (5) working days and render a written judgment to attempt to resolve the issue.

9. Copies of the e4E Summative Evaluation form, signed by both parties, shall be made for

the evaluating administrator and the educator.

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Access to Evaluation

All official evaluations shall be made in writing. The f o r m a t i v e evaluation documents and responses thereto shall be maintained in a confidential file in the office of the administrative supervisor. An original copy of the summative evaluation will be maintained in the district personnel file.

Nothing shall be added to the district personnel file so far as such pertains to an evaluation without the knowledge of the educator. Any employee may request, in writing, the removal of any evaluation documents from his/her file after three (3) years from the date of the evaluation.

Except by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, evaluation documents and responses thereto shall be available only to the evaluated employee, the appropriate administrative staff members designated by the board, the school board attorney upon request of the board, the state board of education as provided in K.S. 72-7515, the board and the administrative staff of any school to which such employee applies for employment, and other persons specified by the employee in writing to his/her board. (K.S.A. 72-9005)

A educator shall be allowed access to his/her evaluation file at any time during regular business hours. All requests for access to the evaluation documents shall be made through the educator’s immediate supervisor or through the Human Resources Office.

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PLAN OF ASSISTANCE PROCEDURES

For a probationary educator, at least one formal evaluation must have been completed before the educator, in conference with the evaluating administrator, shall be given notice that a Plan of Assistance will be developed.

For a non-probationary educator, at least two formal evaluations must have been completed before the educator, in conference with the evaluating administrator, shall be given notice that a Plan of Assistance will be developed.

The Plan of Assistance shall include the elements listed on the USD 443 Plan of Assistance format.

The Plan of Assistance shall be in effect for no longer than one calendar year and no less than one semester except by mutual agreement.

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PLAN OF ASSISTANCE FOR IMPROVING EDUCATOR PERFORMANCE

Background Information Educator’s Name:

School and/or Department:

Teaching Experience:

Statement of Deficiency

This section should include the areas of needed improvement, as referenced in recent

evaluation(s).

General Statement for Plan of Assistance

This section should include:

1. The purpose of the plan

2. The role of the administrator

3. The directive that the Plan of Assistance is to be followed

4. What action may occur if desired improvements are not achieved

Program to be Followed

This section should include:

1. A specific statement as to what is expected of the educator, tied to each area of improvement identified on the recent evaluation instruments.

2. Specific indicator(s) of the successful achievement of these goals. 3. A series of reasonable activities and timelines for each. 4. What assistance will be offered by the administrator and other resources. These

resources may include, but are not limited to: • The assignment of a peer mentor, • Professional development, in addition to the staff development already

offered to educators, • District-paid coursework, not including the cost for college credit, and/or • Release time to observe other educators in the district who have

been identified as proficient in the areas identified for improvement.

Monitoring System

This section should include:

1. The schedule of conferences and observations, with at least one observation scheduled each month, to determine progress. Each conference and observation must be followed by written report or summary, with a copy to be provided to the educator.

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2. Observations will focus primarily on the specific areas indicated as needing improvement.

3. At the conclusion of the Plan of Assistance, the evaluating administrator will meet with the educator, and will provide a final written evaluation of the educator’s progress towards meeting the goals of the Plan of Assistance.

Recommendation

This section should include:

The evaluating administrator’s recommendation regarding the future status of the educator to be forwarded to the Personnel Office.

Signature Section

This section should include the following statement:

“Signature below signifies only receipt and delivery of this memorandum.”

Educator’s Signature Date

Evaluating Administrator’s Signature Date

Copy Distribution Employee Personnel File Any resource personnel mentioned in plan